Collective Psychological Empowerment as a Model of Social Change: Researching Crowds and Power

Abstract

The issue of psychological empowerment in crowd events has important implications for both theory and practice. Theoretically, the issue throws light on both intergroup conflict and the nature and functions of social identity. Practically, empowerment in collective events can feed into societal change. The study of empowerment therefore tells us something about how the forces pressing for such change might succeed or fail. The present article first outlines some limitations in the conceptualization of both identity and empowerment in previous research on crowd events, before delineating the elaborated social identity model of crowds and power. We then describe recent empirical contributions to the field. These divide into two areas of research: (1) empowerment variables and (2) the dynamics of such empowerment. We finally suggest how psychological empowerment and social change are connected through crowd action. We conclude with some recommendations for practice following from the research described.

The social psychology of protest

“…Why do people continue participating in protest although it does not effectuate their claims? Drury and Reicher (2009) suggest that participation generates a 'positive social-psychological transformation'. They argue that participation in protest strengthens identification and induces collective empowerment.…”

The 2011 England riots in European context: A framework for understanding the ‘life-cycle’ of riots

“…Whereas the number of locations in which there was rioting in Sweden was relatively limited, and was certainly less extensive than in England, the riots in France in 2005 were unparalleled in their extent. Again, arguably, the study of the spread of rioting (and other behaviours -Warren and Power, 2015) is something deserving of greater attention (see Drury and Reicher, 2009). The new social media have begun to receive greater attention as a result of their appearance in relation to recent disorder, but in the three cases briefly considered here, there appear to have been differences in usagewhich media as well as whether or not such technologies were utilised -between all three jurisdictions.…”

From Prejudice Reduction to Collective Action: Two Psychological Models of Social Change (and How to Reconcile Them)

“…Building on this general theoretical framework, several distinct but related strands of work on collective action have flourished over the past few decades. The (elaborated) social identity model of crowd behavior developed by Reicher and colleagues (Drury & Reicher, 2009;Reicher, 1982; see also Stott & Drury, 2000) and the dual pathway model of collective action theory developed by Van Zomeren and colleagues (Van Zommeren, Postmes & Spears, 2008, Van Zomeren, Spears, Fischer, & Leach, 2004 exemplify two exciting developments in the field. Klandermans and colleagues' work on the psychology of protests and the role of politicized collective identities exemplifies another (Klandermans, 1997(Klandermans, , 2002Simon & Klandermans, 2001).…”

“…As Drury and Reicher (2009) note, when participation is "understood as instantiating one's collective identity over against one's oppressors, then empowerment can develop into a virtuous cycle of broader, deeper, and more advanced resistance" (p. 722).…”